Read the Bible

¹ And publicans and sinners came to him, to hear him.² And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured, and said: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.³ And Jesus spoke to them this similitude:⁴ What man among you, that hath a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the desert, and go and seek for that which is lost, until he find it?⁵ And when he findeth it, he rejoiceth, and taketh it upon his shoulders;⁶ and he cometh home, and he calleth together his friends and neighbors, and saith to them: Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep that was lost.⁷ I say to you, that there will thus be joy in heaven, over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just ones, to whom repentance was not necessary.⁸ Or what woman is there, who, if she have ten drachmas, and lose one of them, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and search for it carefully, until she find it?⁹ And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, and saith to them: Rejoice with me, for I have found my drachma that was lost.¹⁰ I say to you, That there will thus be joy, before the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth.

¹¹ And Jesus said to them again: A certain man had two sons.¹² And his younger son said to him: My father, give me the portion that falleth to me from thy house. And he divided to them his property.¹³ And after a few days, the younger son collected together all that fell to him, and went to a distant place and there squandered his property, by living in dissipation.¹⁴ And when he had consumed all that he had, there occurred a great famine in that place; and he began to be in want.¹⁵ And he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that place: and he sent him into the field to tend swine.¹⁶ And he longed to fill his belly with those pods which the swine ate: and no one gave to him.¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said: How many hired servants are now at my father's house, who have bread enough, and I am here perishing with hunger.¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and say to him: My father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee;¹⁹ and am no longer worthy to be called thy son. Make me like one of thy hired servants.²⁰ And he arose and went towards his father. And he was yet at a distance, when his father saw him; and he pitied him, and ran, and fell upon his neck and kissed him.²¹ And his son said to him: My father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son.²² But his father said to his servants: Bring forth the best robe, and clothe him, and put a ring on his hand, and supply him with shoes.²³ And bring forth and slay the fatted bullock; and let us eat, and be merry.²⁴ For, this my son was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.²⁵ But his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard the sound of the singing of many.²⁶ And he called to one of the boys, and asked him what it meant.²⁷ And he said to him: Thy brother hath come; and thy father hath killed the fatted bullock, because he hath received him in health.²⁸ And he was angry, and would not go in: and his father went out and entreated him.²⁹ And he said to his father: Lo, these many years have I labored in thy service, and never transgressed thy command; and thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends.³⁰ But for this thy son, when he had dissipated thy property with harlots, and came [fn] , thou hast slain the fatted bullock for him. ³¹ His father said to him: My son, thou hast been ever with me, and all that I have, is thine.³² But it was proper for us to be merry, and to rejoice; because this thy brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.